What kind of vitamins are in fortified bread?

Anne BaleyUpdated May 22, 2018

Homemade bread is often just flour, egg, yeast and water. Commercial bread, on the other hand, can have dozen of ingredients. Breads are fortified with many different vitamins and other healthy additives.

The first fortification

In 1941, bread began to be fortified with niacin, riboflavin, thiamine and iron to help reduce diseases related to nutritional deficiency. Recently, bakeries have also begun adding folic acid to breads for the same reason.

Calcium

The human body absorbs calcium easier when it's consumed at the same time as protein. Bread is being fortified with calcium because many common menu ingredients, such as peanut butter or ham and cheese, contain protein.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Bread manufacturers are increasingly adding ingredients which deliver Omega-3 fatty acids. Microencapsulated fish oil is being tried, while flaxseed is added much more often.

Protein

Bakeries are adding soy protein more in recent years. Protein is found to be beneficial for many conditions including cancer, heart disease, asthma and bone density. Adding whole wheat can add to the protein count, as well.

Fibre

Fibre is non-digestible, yet is beneficial to human health. It takes waste material out of our bodies, reducing some forms of cancer. Bakeries are fortifying breads with a variety of fibre sources, from whole grains to inulin.

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About the Author

Working in sunny Florida, Anne Baley has been writing professionally since 2009. Her home and lifestyle articles have been seen on Coldwell Banker and Gardening Know How. Baley has published a series of books teaching how to live a frugal life with style and panache.